Dentist said he'd report me

[Shmee1988]

So, my son is 13, he has adhd and suspected autism (awaiting assessment). Unfortunately his adult teeth have not grown straight at all. Some are almost twisted in his mouth and some have erupted on top of others. He was referred to an orthodontist 3 years ago. The wait list for NHS treatment is loooong and he finally had his first appointment yesterday. He is not thrilled at the prospect of braces but after alot of discussion he has realised its important and ideal to get it all done whilst hes still at school when some of his peers will also have them. The orthodontist did all of the Xrays and said he needs braces and qualifies for this on the NHS. He then turned to my son and said 'would you like braces?' to which my DS replied 'no'. The orthodontist then said he woukd need to see us again in 2 years time as my DS doesn't want braces so he wont fit them. I asked to have a private word with him and explained that part of DS sen is that he is very literal and that when he asked him if he would LIKE braces, he answered the question literally as if he was being asked if he would like to have to have braces and that he was not refusing treatment. He didn't care and told me that I need to start the referral process all over again and that it would be almost 5 years before he can get them fitted on the NHS due to the wait time. I asked him if I could have another word with DS so that son could explain he wasnt saying he wouldn't have them and he said no. He then went on to say that if I bought my son back and he still said he wouldn't like braces, he will report me. I thanked him for his time and left but I was so upset. Ds was upset and now that upset had turned to anger. Is he suggesting that advocating for a child to receive necessary treatment is akin to abuse if the child is anxious about it? Aren't all kids anxious about braces? I want to take this further and complain. Especially as my son will be almost an adult by the time his next appointment comes around. Opinions please? Thanks in advance.

This dentist should have given you space and time to speak to your son so he could process what you discussed.If anyone needs reporting its the dentist for lack of understanding.

I remember being asked if I wanted braces by the orthodontist at age 15, I said ‘no’ and he encouraged me to have them. This guy is completely out of order, threatening to report you!

I feel really sorry for you op. Please complain!!

The guidance also states that professionals and parents should work together on this to achieve best outcome, this does not appear to have happened.

The GDC governs dentists - General Dental Council, it is their regulatory and statutory body, similar to the GMC for doctors and the GNC for nurses.
It would be pointless reporting him to the practice manager, as they are probably an employee of the practice and the dentists, there to ensure that the practice runs smoothly. The practice manager has no jurisdiction over the dentists. If you feel so strongly then the GDC is the body to contact, or indeed, as someone has already mentioned, PALS if your son is an NHS patient.

That’s awful. Definitely make a complaint and pursue. And try to move dentists?

Incidentally, my friend’s son with ADHD has some similar teeth to what you describe and their dentist was rude to her about it as if it was her fault.

I would report the dentist! And say you want the braces, but with another dentist for reasons stated in your report.

GDC are absolutley not the body to contact here. The practice are the first port of call. If the practice receives a complaint about a clinician - the clinician will usually be advised to speak with their indemnifier to draft a letter explaining why something happened or apologising for what happened.
If you are not satisfied after this, then NHS England. The GDC is reserved for the most serious cases. Think fraud, sexual misconduct, very poor clinical work, things that risk a patients health or their colleagues.
I’m not sure you’re aware how much damage an unjustified GDC referral can cause a clinician. People have committed suicide whilst waiting for hearings. They’re an overly aggressive regulator, though recently are trying to be more balanced in the way they govern dentists

It’s interesting that the poll shows that only 4% think the OP is unreasonable. Well, that’s a very vocal 4%!

Personally, I say YANBU, OP. I remember having braces in my teens. If I’d been asked whether I would like braces, I might have said no. But I wasn’t asked, I was told that they were needed to straighten my teeth. I accepted the word of the dentist and agreed to it.

I think it’s too much responsibility on a 13 year old to be asked whether they consent to have braces. The dentist should have taken time to explain to the OP’s DS why braces were necessary, and he would have agreed to it. The OP actually said that he had agreed that he would wear a brace. He was just answering the question he’d been asked in a literal way.

Please report the dentist and demand that a trust has learning disabilities awareness training. This is unacceptable

Is that supposed to be offering some sort of excuse or mitigation? Because that would actually be worse than it appears at first sight ie deliberately withholding treatment when he knew fine well that the child wasn’t withholding consent.

This - disgusting way to treat you and your son, make a complaint. The dentist should understand that your son has additional needs and treat him accordingly not rush him and explain everything to him.

Nope, honestly. Absolutely nothing. I did have a char with my son about the importance of the braces but it even occur to me that he'd even be asked the question 'would you like braces'. It was just an assessment to confirm if he qualifies for NHS treatment. Also, no, there was no argument and no heated discussion. I was pleasant, thanked him and left. I was raging on the inside but never let it show.

@Shmee1988 A person with additional needs cannot give informed consent if appropriate adjustments have not been made for their communication needs.

One way of understanding a person’s communication needs is to speak to their family!

Definitely complain.

The dentist may say informed consent not actually the issue - if your son not willing to go along with processes- so you would also need to make clear that son would most likely cope with braces.

I would also remind the dentist that as the child’s parent with PR, you have the right to consent to the treatment even if your child did say no anyway.

That is not true. Brace treatment is not life saving treatment. It's elective treatment. Children today very much have a right to decline treatment. Caveat that being a life saving procedure.

I would have told him, you would report him for unprofessional conduct.
Frankly, he has more to lose than you.

In most health areas I'm sure you can self refer to a dental specialist hospital. In London this would likely be the Eastman Dental Hospital, which is an amazing facility.

Dentists also will refer you, if the work is too complicated or outside their remuneration regime.

I don't think much of the orthodontist that treated that patient. The treatment should never been allowed to progress that far. The patient should have been warned along the way, given chances to improve, and if no improvement, braces removed well before it got to that stage. "First do no harm".

Adhd & autism are covered by the disability act 2010.

OK if that is the case, then she can consult a solicitor and start a claim.

Oh come on, I can be as pedantic as the next person but for fuck's sake the OP has a problem she wants to discuss and doesn't need pulling up on her spelling.

Exactly how I read it. Unfortunately, I was that child who wasn’t offered braces and needed them. I have had a lifetime of problems with my teeth. Abscess after abscess due to impacted teeth and overcrowding. Awful pain to the point that labour seems less agonising. Teeth problems can be absolutely awful in adulthood, not to mention bloody expensive. I would urge anyone who has kids who need braces to get them. Even now, dentists ask me why was I never offered them, but I can’t justify the cost now.

But AuDHD is not a one-size-fits-all thing that can be surmised by a test. What about non-verbal kids, or those who have anxiety disorders, or those who are (at the most basic level) very literal. I don’t want nasty dental work. Do I understand it’s probably what’s best for me? Yes. Do I want it? No. This just goes to show how utterly ignorant society is about neurodiversity, and it boils my piss on a daily basis. Trump has already pissed me off beyond belief with his utter twattery this week, and now we’re denying SEN kids NHS dental care because it’s easier to ask them a question in such a way that guarantees less effort than accommodating them with compassion and understanding. Christ, we need to do better.

He doesn’t have to be a mind reader. The OP indicated on the forms and then told the dentist that her ds has autism. So the dentist should have rephrased the question

Get the GPs email address, write all that the Dr said down for your record. Contact the Equality Commission, fill out the application online, they'll get back to you. Describe the situation they'll advise you on what to do next. This in my experience certainly constitutes disability discrimination and neglect from health provider. Stay strong. I'd not go back to this dentist.

Why are you bring so aggy?

Its a discussion forum, for people to discuss things.

This is a mum whose child has been treated badly. She's understandably upset and wants to vent.

You could dismiss most posts on mn with 'you should go and deal with it then and stop posting on here' if you were minded to 🙄

The two are not mutually exclusive.